What's being done to move the Rockford area forward and what sometimes holds us back?

When will Rockford Latinos exercise political power?

About this blog

By Isaac Guerrero

Whatís being done to move the Rockford area forward and what sometimes holds us back? Thatís what interests reporter Isaac Guerrero. The Rockford native writes about higher education and public/private partnerships Ė how public and quasi-public
...

Whatís being done to move the Rockford area forward and what sometimes holds us back? Thatís what interests reporter Isaac Guerrero. The Rockford native writes about higher education and public/private partnerships Ė how public and quasi-public agencies leverage your tax dollars to boost tourism, economic development and education. Isaac is a Rockford native and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University. He has held a variety of writing and editing roles at the Register Star since 1998.

Look, I understand that La Voz Latina is an advocate for education, not political power. What I don't understand is why it couldn't be both, especially with a name like La Voz Latina. No matter. Sooner or later, somebody is going to wake up and fill the void.

There were four Latino candidates in prominent general election races last week and all four of them lost.

Incumbent Laura Powers beat Jaime Escobedo. She earned 53 percent of the vote to keep her Rockford School Board seat in District G.

Newcomer Michael Connor earned 53 percent of the vote to win a Rockford School Board seat in District F. He edged out Jeff Holt, who earned 40 percent of the vote, and Juan Reyes, who earned 7 percent of the vote.

Rockford alderman Karen Elyea nabbed 54 percent of the vote in the Eleventh Ward, enough to hold off challenger Jaime Salgado and keep her City Council seat. Interestingly, Elyea defeated another Latino in the primary election earlier this year. She earned 51 percent of the vote then; Tuffy Quinonez nabbed 43 percent and Dyanna Chandler earned 6 percent.

Ray Montelongo came in fifth place among a field of 10 candidates running for three seats on the Rock Valley College Board of Trustees.

The ranks of white people are thinning in Rockford and in Winnebago County. Rockford's white population dropped 9 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The drop was nearly half a percentage point in the county.

The number of Latinos/Hispanics in Rockford grew nearly 58 percent (from 15,278 to 24,085) during the same time. The Latino surge was more stark in Winnebago County, growing nearly 68 percent from 19,206 to 32,177.

The city and county are more black, too. The black population grew 20 percent in the city and 23 percent in the county between 2000 and 2010.

So the Rockford area is becoming more diverse. And Latinos are driving the change, which is good because we sure could use some change.

Things are tough all over in Rockford. Lots of poverty. Lots of crime. Lots of undereducated people.

Thank God we’ve got lots of diversity.

Six taco shops opened while you were dreaming of Trader Joe's and Portillo’s. Republicans -- they're the ones who are always extolling the virtues of small business, right? Well, the Democrats have been asleep, too. We all have.

Hispanic buying power (disposable income) in this country was $1 trillion in 2010 and is expected to grow 50 percent by 2015, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.

Those four Latinos didn't win last week. But immigration reform is coming. You add a little organization, a little time. A collective will. Sky's the limit.

Rockford does not have a problem. Rockford Latinos do not have a problem.